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Food & Drink

The Best Breakfast and Brunch Spots in Memphis

The Arcade is a traditional diner in Memphis
The Arcade is a traditional diner in Memphis | © Cyrille Gibot / Alamy
Photo of Sekilah Calvin
Sekilah Calvin
17 September 2021

Memphis, Tennessee, is a place rich in history and culture. The restaurants in Memphis are just the same and their southern-style of cooking is historically rooted to the area. In the morning, there are oodles of classic treats to be had too; here are the city’s best breakfast and brunch spots.

Cafe Eclectic

Coffee Shop, Cafe, American, $$$
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Kathy Barker, enjoys a treat with a friend recently at Cafe Eclectic
© ZUMA / Alamy

Cafe Eclectic has three different locations open in Memphis, but the one on McLean Boulevard. is the first and biggest one in town. Breakfast is served all day everyday and supplied only by local farms. It’s also sells Illy coffee, purchased directly from the owners.

Brother Juniper's

Diner, Restaurant, American, Vegetarian, Vegan, $$$
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Brother Juniper’s is a family-oriented and nationally acclaimed breakfast restaurant. It took root from a spiritual community from the 60s and is named after the actual Brother Juniper of St. Francis of Assisi. It’s housed in a humble building in Memphis but the breakfast food is extravagantly delicious.

Bryants BBQ & Breakfast

Restaurant, North American, $$$
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pancakes . matthias-reumann-EPSt0G6qsA4-unsplash
© Matthias Reumann on Unsplash
Bryants Breakfast is the epitome of the southern breakfast joint, and serves dishes for the cheapest price possible! The business started in 1968 and remains one of the town’s favorite places to go. Patrons can expect the likes of American pancakes and crispy bacon on the menu, all served up with that ubiquitous cup of warm joe.

Arcade Restaurant

Restaurant, American, Vegan, Vegetarian
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Memphis Tennessee , Street art and Graffiti , Elvis, Rufus Thomas , Arcade Restaurant. Image shot 08/2014. Exact date unknown.
© moris kushelevitch / Alamy
The Arcade is the oldest cafe in Memphis. It was built in 1919 and still has the suave 50’s styles and retro architectural pieces from its original manifestation. The joint serves breakfast all day and is located just down street from Beale Street, Memphis’ hottest downtown area.

Paulette's

Restaurant, American, Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten-free, Fast Food, $$$
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Located at the bottom of River Inn, Paulette’s remains a town favorite amongst tourists and locals. The interior is set up like a fine-dining restaurant but without the fine-dining price. Their southern brunch and breakfast is elegantly made and the unique menu includes things you have probably never had for brunch.

Belly Acres

Restaurant, North American, $$$
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Mar 16, 2020; Memphis, TN, USA; Sisters Grace (from left) and Audrey Garrett, and their mother, Jennifer Parsons, eat lunch Monday, March 16, 2020, at Belly Acres in Overton Square. Restaurant owner Lee Scifres said he has seen a sharp downturn in busines
© Sipa US / Alamy
Belly Acres is set up to look like the inside of a barn, giving customers a southern country ambiance as soon as they walk through the door. This establishment is usually a dinner joint but it just recently started serving breakfast on weekends. Their breakfast is just like their dinner and only uses fresh farm ingredients.

Java Cabana

Coffee Shop, Cafe, American
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Java Cabana is a cute coffee shop in Memphis that also sells breakfast all day. This is a breakfast and coffee spot that’s way more than just food. It’s famous for its wedding chapel in the back, where ad hoc ceremonies are presided over by an Elvis impersonator. There is also live music when available and open mic poetry nights every Thursday at 8pm.

Automatic Slims

Restaurant, Bar, American, Vegetarian, Gluten-free, $$$
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Retro Automatic Slim's, Memphis, TN, is an upscale restaurant serving American cuisine with Southern flare on South 2nd Street
© Jennifer Wright / Alamy
Automatic Slims is a delicious brunch spot turned famous dinner restaurant with an entertaining bar. They have a wide variety of food on their breakfast and brunch menu, including the Elvis pancake and Slims chicken and waffles. Not only is the breakfast very tasty but stick around for dinner and you can take a stab at their dinner and martini menu.
These recommendations were updated on September 17, 2021 to keep your travel plans fresh.
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